Tires
There was a time when all vehicles shipped to the developing countries were equipped with tubed tires, and repairing tubeless tires was difficult. However, this is less true than it was. If a vehicle is going to be based and used out in the bush it is still simpler to repair a tubed tire, but for normal cars for in town use, tubeless tires can now be repaired in most places.
If you do take a vehicle equipped with tubeless tires and you experience a puncture, it is important that it be repaired properly. Many garages overseas will "repair" a tubeless tire by inserting a tube into the damaged tire. This procedure may enable the tire to be re-inflated for a short, slow journey, but it is not a safe long term solution.
Most tires used around the world these days are the radial sort and they are far superior to the old cross-ply type. Some manufacturers are still fitting cross-ply tires for certain territories but their safe speed / load levels are lower than those for radials. Some cross-ply tires also offer less directional stability and have a tendancy to allow vehicles to "wander" more. Whatever tire type is fitted, always ensure that you do not combine the two different sorts on the same vehicle.
Be sure to check your tire pressures on a regular basis and always do so while the tires are cool (particularly in hot areas). Never reduce the pressure in your tires to the recommended level while they're hot. It's quite normal for the pressure to increase when the tires warm up.
If you are driving in a very cold country you should change to snow tires when the winter starts or at least use all-season tires. The latter are not as good as snow tires but they are better than regular ones. It is important, particularly in winter to use tires with plenty of tread left in them. In the event that some of your tires are a little worn, it is recommended that you place the ones with the deepest tread at the rear. This applies whether your car is a front or rear wheel drive.
If you run with your tires under inflated it will severely affect their durability and also increase your fuel consumption. You should also rotate your tires from time to time (switch their positions on the car), and also ensure that your wheel alignment is checked every so often. The wheel balancing should be checked on a regular basis too and particularly if you experience vibration at speed.
For more information on tires please visit one of the manufacturer's sites listed in our Links pages. These offer a lot of helpful advice.
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